Obama Says Freshman GOP Senators are Just Seeking Publicity

In an interview with the Associated Press, President Obama contrasted his tenure as a senator with the current crop of first-term Republican senators, saying he “didn’t go around courting the media” or “trying to shut down the government” while he was in the Senate.

Said Obama: “I recognize that in today’s media age, being controversial, taking controversial positions, rallying the most extreme parts of your base, whether it’s left or right, is a lot of times the fastest way to get attention and raise money. But it’s not good for government.”